Marathon runners staying with locals

Zane Razzaq Daily News staff @zanerazz

Sunday

Apr 15, 2018 at 8:31 PM

HOPKINTON — As 30,000 runners flock to the state to participate in the 122nd Boston Marathon, many need a place to stay amid booked hotels and surging prices. Area residents respond to the surge of visitors by throwing their doors open to the athletes or using social media to connect with runners in need.

For Binki DeCollibus, hosting a Boston Marathon runner means forging a connection. Last year, she recalled standing by the sidelines holding balloons and cheering as a college student from California made her way through the 26.2-mile course. DeCollibus had only met the young woman a few days ago.

"There was no one here for her because she was out of state," said DeCollibus, a Hopkinton resident.

This year, DeCollibus and her husband, Jerry, are hosting another out-of-state runner, Alex Danner, and his friend, Rose Asquith. From Nevada City, California, Danner said this is his second year running the Marathon. The last time, they stayed with Jamaica Plain residents.

"We got to meet these lovely people," said Asquith, gesturing to the DeCollibus couple, when asked why they preferred to stay with locals.

"Boston is one of the most welcoming cities for marathon runners," said Danner, sitting in the DeCollibus' dining room and sipping coffee Sunday afternoon. His official 2018 Boston Marathon jacket was draped off the back of his chair as he spoke. "Everywhere we go, it seems like everyone is happy to see runners."

DeCollibus used AirBNB to connect with Danner and Asquith. In earlier years, she said she always wished she could host runners in her home but never knew how to go about it.

"We always thought it was a great idea but there was no clearinghouse to find a runner. And we weren't runners so we weren't in any network," said DeCollibus.

She said she told Danner and Asquith to just call if they needed a place to stay next year.

About 18 runners were staying at the Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton ahead of the race. For 20 years, a team has run the Marathon to benefit the nonprofit organization. Director Sharon Lisnow said she tries to accommodate as many of these runners as possible.

"I just think, they're spending so much time and energy to benefit us that it's nice for us to give them some comfort," said Lisnow. "Especially with the cold and the rain (forecast for Monday)."

Lisnow said the team is a wide range of people, including Boston College students and runners in their 60s. She escorts runners to the start line after hosting a team breakfast. She plans on cheering them on from the sidelines.

Orlando Vega, a manager at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, said that this year the hotel has a 50-percent vacancy. The day before the Marathon, they were still able to accommodate guests.

"I'm not sure why we're so slow this year," said Vega, noting in past years, the hotel was booked solid ahead of the race.

Other hotels like the Boston Park Plaza and The Langham Boston also reported vacancies ahead of Marathon Monday.

For visitors like Danner and Asquith, the draw of staying with locals was clear.